The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor Flt-1 is charaterized by seven Ig-like loops within the extracellular domain. To identify which part is responsible for ligand binding, four cDNA clones coding for truncated Flt-1 mutants consisting of loop 1, 1-2, 2-3 and 1-3 were obtained by PCR from human cardiac cDNA library and inserted into the vectors of the yeast two-hybrid system, with VEGF cDNA on the partner plasmid. The paired plasmids were transformed into yeast strain SFY526, and tested by filter membrane method and β-galactosidase activity. The results showed that Flt-1(1-2)、Flt-1(2-3) and Flt-1(1-3) all were able to bind VEGF, of which Flt-1(1-3) showed the highest binding affinity, but no binding of VEGF was observed with Flt-1(2) and VEGF.
